Excalibur’s 1037 Performance Plus Soft Hand additive is a balanced product that is a combination extender, penetrant and flow agent. This additive can be added to any Excalibur Performance Plus ink to not only extend the ink and soften the hand-feel of the finished print but also reduces the viscosity and improves the flow helping it clean completely from the screen mesh while retaining the 270F cure temperature. Even though it can be used in any quantity the following precautions should be taken when mixing 1037 into Performance Plus plastisols.
It is recommended that 1037 be used in combination with the Performance Plus Series and only be printed directly onto white or light-coloured backgrounds.
Always stir any plastisol ink thoroughly prior to adding to the screen break down the false body that builds up during storage. This should always be done prior to adding 1037 Soft Hand Additive. If 1037 is added before stirring it could cause the mixed ink to be too thin to produce the desired print.
If using an ink paddle with a variable speed drill set it to a slow speed to avoid heat from the friction of stirring to build up in the ink. Introducing heat to the ink will begin the gelling process and make the ink more difficult to print.
Adding 1037 to any high-opacity ink that will be printed directly onto dark backgrounds will diminish opacity. For this reason, best results are attained by adding no more than 1% of by weight.
Adding too much 1037 will diminish the film strength of the imprint and could possibly cause “fibrillation” where the fiber of the shirt stands up during the washing process and breaks through the ink film causing the print to appear faded. Fibrillation can also look as if the print is under cured.
TECHNICAL INFORMATION
Gel Temperature: Ink will surface gel at 240° F (116° C).
Curing: Gel Temperature: 230°F (110°C)
Full Cure: 270°F (132°C)
Mesh: For direct printing a 110-305/inch (43T-122Tcm) may be used.
Stencil: Any stencil compatible with plastisol inks may be used.
Squeegee: 70 durometer or 90/70/90 triple durometer blades are recommended.
Clean-up: Use Enviro Series 2000 Green or Enviro Series TR Blend.
CAUTION
Always test finished prints for curing, adhesion, stretch and desired look prior to beginning full production runs. Lancer Group International cannot guarantee the results or back claims that this mixed ink will test phthalate-free if any additive other than an additive manufactured by Lancer Group International is used to modify this ink. Test results by a third-party laboratory verifying all components used to produce this ink are phthalate-free and lead-free are available upon request.